A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
Mike and the tree
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over doorways
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
Take a close look at the bottom right corner...
Did you see the face of the Buddah? The tree kept the face looking out.
A ruined Khymer Temple with a large tree growing over a wall
Teresa became very fond of banana shakes. The fruit was probably pulled off the tree that day, mixed with coconut milk that was opened from the nut just for that drink, and mixed with shaved ice. They were very good!
I had coconut curry and bread. In a coconut that probably was on the tree an hour earlier! We ate lunch several times at this resturaunt, located just across the moat from Angkor Wat.
Teresa's omlete with ham, cheese and french fries.
The entrance to ANGOR WAT.
Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. The largest and best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation—first Hindu, dedicated to Vishnu, then Buddhist.
The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors
During the Khymer Rouge wars in the 1970's, most of the jungle temples were the sites of repeated fierce battles. Notice the bullet holes in the front of the Angkor Wat entrance here.
Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temples. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the gods in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 km (2.2 miles) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next.
At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this.
The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs and for the numerous devatas adorning its walls.
The initial design and construction of the temple took place in the first half of the 12th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II (ruled 1113–c. 1150). Dedicated to Vishnu, it was built as the king's state temple and capital city.
As neither the foundation stela nor any contemporary inscriptions referring to the temple have been found, its original name is unknown, but it may have been known as Vrah Vishnulok after the presiding deity. It is located 5.5 km north of the modern town of Siem Reap, and a short distance south and slightly east of the previous capital, which was centred on the Baphuon.
Work seems to have ended on the king's death, with some of the bas-reliefs unfinished
On either side of the entrance causeways on all the temples are large structures that held libraries of scrolls for priests and scholars to read. This was open to any who wanted to study, and almost all have not survived the centuries of war and wear.
In 1177 Angkor was sacked by the Chams, the traditional enemies of the Khmer. Thereafter the empire was restored by a new king, Jayavarman VII, who established a new capital and state temple (Angkor Thom and the Bayon respectively) a few kilometres to the north. The green you see are tarps covering workers who are doing restoration work.
The walls inside Angkor Wat are covered with depictions of battles between the forces of good and evil
The Hindu Gods battle with evil.
It is considered lucky to rub your hand on some of the figures, so alot of the carvings are worn very smooth by millions of hands over the past thousand years.
In the 14th or 15th century the temple was converted to Theravada Buddhist use, which continues to the present day. There were several swimming pools in the complex, but all are empty now because of the garbage that accumulated when there was water there. Several monks in orange are walking past in this shot.
Based on the areas that are "polished" by hands, you can see what people are wishing for.
More wishing...
All of the temple baths had many dancing ladies carved around them.
Teresa posing in front of one of the many bath pools.
Angkor Wat is still used currently for Buddhist monks and services.
A picture of inside Angkor Wat.
A picture of inside Angkor Wat.
Another picture of an actively used area.
A ruined libary building in Angkor Wat
Repair and conservation work
A picture of inside Angkor Wat.
To get to the interior temple structures, you had to climb up 80 feet up very steep steps. Yes, people have died from falling on these steps.
A view from the top center tower looking out onto the entrance causeway to Angkor Wat
A monkey taking a nap up in the rafters of the central towers.
Looking down into the courtyards, now dry and without any of the ponds and streams.
Teresa looking out upon the ruins and the surrounding jungle.
A ruined courtyard
Many of the carvings were never finished...
But most were, and they are still in extremely good shape.
Looking up at the backside of the main temple steps.
Here are some carvings that were not finished, and you can see the rough chisel marks around the carvings.
Here is the outline of one that just got started.
One that had just been started, and never finished. A thousand years ago.
The back hallways.
The backhallways are filled with carvings showing the creation of the world.
The pulling of the giant Naga, and it's twisting created a froth, from which the world is born.
Pulling on the giant Naga
Soldiers of Good and Soldiers of Evil battle
Gods riding elephants go to battle
Lots of rubbing on these soldiers for good luck
Gods off to battle
More war scenes
It was very hot out in the sun. Teresa poses on the causeway of Angkor Wat.
Looking back at the ruins from, with an angle that does not show any of those pesky tarps.
Another early day, and another ruin. This 5 tower ruin has only the central tower in decent shape.
Inside is a multi headed, multi armed godess. The black is from incense, which is still burning in front all the time.